Quintero's daughter told police that she was in her bedroom at 5 a.m. Sunday with the family's pet Chihuahua when Quintero came in and grabbed the dog, said John Cannon, spokesman at the Houston Police Department.

"The father apparently took it (pet) into a bathroom and assaulted the dog, according to the daughter," Cannon said. "She couldn't tell whether the dog was alive or not and she said she and her mom went to a friend's home to call police."

When they returned to their home, the daughter and mother learned that Quintero had buried the dog in the front yard, according to police.

Questioned by police, Quintero "admitted his role of grabbing and throwing the dog, but he said he didn't mean to kill it," Cannon said.